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In the Old Testament (OT), we read about the Ark of the Covenant first in Exodus 16:34, and later see plans for its design and construction in beginning in Exodus 25. This object was important to Israel and symbolized God’s presence among the people of Israel during their wandering in the wilderness (Numbers 13-14).
What Was the Ark?
The ark was one of the most sacred objects in Israel and was crafted from precious metal and fine wood. It was a chest (the Hebrew word for “ark,” arone, simply means “chest” or “box;” the English word “ark” ultimately comes from the Latin, arcus, meaning “chest”) that contained the Ten Commandments, Aaron’s staff, and leftover manna from the wilderness.
After the establishment of the kingdom of Israel, the ark was placed in the Holy of Holies in King Solomon’s temple in Jerusalem.
What Happened to the Ark?
History does not know for certain what happened to the Ark of the Covenant, though many scholars believe it was captured during the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonian Empire around 587/586 B.C.
The Ark Symbolized God’s Presence
The Ark of the Covenant symbolized God’s presence. We see this in Joshua 3.
Joshua 3:3 When you see the Levitical priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord your God, move out from your positions and follow them.
The priests carried the ark because it represented his presence among them. Even before going off to battle, the ark leading the procession of soldiers showed that God was fighting for Israel.
The Ark Demonstrated God’s Holiness
The Kohathites were a group of people in Israel charged to care for the ark (Numbers 4:15). Even after being commanded to move the ark, they were told not to touch it. We see later in 2 Samuel 6 that when a man named Uzzah touched the ark, he was struck dead. The reason he died was because the ark, symbolizing God’s presence, was completely holy. Because human beings are unholy apart from being cleansed of sin – ultimately through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ – when unholy Uzzah touched the holy ark, he died. This is also why the prophets fall down when they are in God’s presence and why the Apostle John does so when he sees the glorified Jesus Christ in Revelation 1.
The Ark Demonstrated God’s Mercy
The most important part of the ark was the mercy seat. Once a year, the high priest of Israel would make atonement for his sins and for those of the people on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:15). The ark was an integral part of this ceremony. Later, the New Testament used the language of the ark and the Day of Atonement to show how true, eternal cleansing and forgiveness comes through Jesus Christ alone.
The Ark of the Covenant was a central object of ancient Israel’s worship and picture of what God ultimately planned to do for all humanity through Jesus Christ.
- What is your initial reaction to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- The ark was a symbol of God’s presence among the people of Israel. What sort of symbols represent God’s presence among Christians?
- What significance would the three items within the ark (the commandments, Aaron’s staff, some manna) have had for the Israelites?
- Why would God have allowed such an important symbol of his presence to be taken away by foreign invaders?
- Why is understanding the ark important for people living today?
- Write a personal action step based on this conversation.
